IX.

CHAP. that he was himself a performer on the organ; and his love of books is evinced by the petition of the Countess of Westmorland, who, after his decease prayed that the Chronicles of Jerusalem, and the Expedition of Godfrey of Bouillon,* which the late king had borrowed of her, might be restored. From the same authority we learn, that the Prior of Christchurch in the city of Canterbury had also lent the works of St. Gregory to the king. The good monk complains of the Prior of Shene for detaining the book. Henry, amid his other accomplishments, was distinguished for bodily activity. A contemporary (Titus Livius) quoted by Baker, writes, that he was so swift of foot, "that he, with two of his lords, without bow or other engine, would take a wild buck or a doe in a large park."

The marriage of Henry with a princess of France, his nomination to the succession by Charles VI., and the deadly hatred which a large portion of the nation bore to the partizans of the dauphin, reconciled the conquered provinces to foreign rule: and, in acknowledging the king of England as their future sovereign they, in common with his more ancient subjects, took a generous pride in the glo-· rious deeds which filled all Europe with admiration and surprise. At this gallant monarch's death, Walsingham assures us that the people of Paris and Rouen offered immense sums to have the corpse of the hero interred amongst them.

The obsequies of a king who was followed to the grave by the affectionate regrets of two powerful nations, were conducted with splendour worthy * Rymer.

IX.

of the occasion. The body lay in state in the CHAP. church of Notre Dame in Paris, where the funeral service was performed, and then it was conveyed with fitting pomp and solemnity to Rouen, at which place magnificent preparations were made for the procession to England. The corpse, enclosed in a leaden coffin, was put into a chariot drawn by six horses, and on a bed in the same chariot reposed an effigy of the king royally attired, having a crown on his head, a sceptre in his right hand, and a ball in his left, all of gold; the coverture of the bed was of vermilion silk embroidered with gold, and the chariot was surmounted by a canopy of silk.* The trappings of the horses were exceedingly rich. The first bore the arms of St. George, the second those of Normandy, the third of King Arthur, the fourth of St. Edward, the fifth of France, and the sixth those of France and England. King James of Scotland followed as chief mourner, attend. ed by the Duke of Exeter, the Earls of Warwick, March, Stafford and Mortaigne; the Lords Fitzhugh, Hungerford, Sir Robert Robessart, Lord Bourchier, Sir John Cornwel, Lord Fanhope, and the Lord Cromwell. The banners of the Saints were borne by the Lords Lovel, Audely, Morley, and Zouch. The Baron of Dudley bore the standard, and the Earl of Longueville the banner. The achievements were carried by twelve captains, and around the chariot rode five hundred men at arms. all in black armour, their horses barbed black and their lances held with the points downwards. A great multitude attired in white bearing lighted

* Monstrelet and Holingshed.

CHAP. torches also encompassed the chariot. The members IX. of the royal household, clothed in black went next;

and after them, the royal family in deep mourning. The queen with a splendid retinue followed at a league distance. In whatsoever church the royal body reposed upon its journey to England, masses were said without interruption from the first dawn of the morning until nine. Upon landing at Dover, the funeral procession moved with the same pomp to London. On approaching the capital it was met by fifteen bishops in their pontifical habits, and a numerous train of abbots, in their mitres and vestments, together with an immense assembly of priests, citizens, and people. The ecclesiastics who attended the dead body of the king into London, performed all the way and through the streets of the city, the funeral devotions. The princes of the royal family in mournful attitudes following next the chariot until it reached Westminster Abbey, where the corpse, deposited in a magnificent tomb, received the last honours from the weeping multitude, who with unaffected sorrow consigned the perishing remains of the conqueror of France to an early

grave.

CHAPTER X.

Appointments of the King's Uncles-Coronation of the Dauphin-Success of the Duke of Bedford-Sparing Grants to the Duke of Bedford-The Infant King exhibited to his Subjects-Conduct of the Council towards the Earl of March-Death of the Earl-disabilities of his Heir-Grant of the Council-Restoration of Richard Duke of York-his large Possessious-Imprudent Conduct of Gloucester-Marriage with Jacqualine of Hainault-Appeal of the Duke of Brabant-Gloucester invades the Territory belonging to his Wife— Burgundy hastens to his Kinsman's assistance-Quarrel between Gloucester and Burgundy-The Pope's Bull-Effects of Gloucester's rash Ambition-Opposition of Beaufort Bishop of WinchesterGloucester's second Marriage—Continued Disputes in the Council— Punishment of the Citizens-Violent Conduct of the opposing Parties -Mediation of the Archbishop-Beaufort's Letter-Arrival of the Duke of Bedford-Meeting of Parliament-Charges against Beaufort-Reconciliation between Gloucester and Beaufort—Elevation of the latter The King's Education-Appointment of the Earl of Warwick-Contrast of Character between Henry and his Tutor— Errors of Gloucester's political Career-Successful Hostility of his Enemies.

1422.

UPON the decease of Henry V. John of Lancaster CHAP.X. Duke of Bedford was appointed regent, and the English Parliament invested Humphrey Duke of Gloucester with the honourable office of Protector in England during the absence of his elder brother. A competitor to the sceptre of France existed in

CHAP.X. the person of the Dauphin who was crowned at Poictiers by the faithful few who still adhered to his ruined fortunes,* but the possession by the English of a large territory, including Paris, part of Maine and Anjou, nearly the whole of Picardy and Normandy, together with Guienne and Gascony, their closely cemented friendship with the Duke of Burgundy, and their alliance with Bretagne gave them so formidable an ascendance that there appeared little chance of the recovery of his inheritance by an inexperienced and dissipated youth of nineteen.

Victory still attended the banners of the Duke of Bedford, and under disadvantages which had scarcely been felt by Henry V.; the somewhat sparing grants transmitted from England, he continued a campaign which promised to end in the indissoluble union of the two kingdoms. The English people though dazzled by the splendour of so glorious an acquisition, were not neglectful of their own interests; they watched the conduct of the Duke of Gloucester at home with active jealousy, and a vigorous administration introduced many wise regulations for the execution of justice, and circumscribed the protector's power within its proper limits. slender supplies of men and money which were voted by Parliament for carrying on the war in France taught the regent a lesson of economy which that prudent prince did not fail to observe. Their baby sovereign displayed to the populace in all the interesting weakness of infancy, lying on the lap of his young and beautiful mother, and bearing on his

The